---
title: "天隱和尚語錄 · 答曹念茲居士"
description: "天隐和尚语录是明代高僧天隐圆修的说法开示集由弟子通问等人编撰。全书收录了天隐圆修在禅修实践、佛法义理方面的精要阐述反映了明末禅宗临济宗的修行风貌与思想精髓。作为明末禅宗的重要文献该书不仅展现了天隐圆修直指人心、注重实修的禅风也对后世禅学发展产生了深远影响是研究明清佛教史与禅宗思想的重要典籍在佛教文献中具有较高的学术与修行参考价值。"
url: "https://rushiwowen.co/en/r/cmgn2g0e94mecl404emrncica"
---

### 答曹念茲居士

> Reply to Lay Buddhist Cao Nianzi

憶昔與門下道左相逢，一笑莫逆。十五年來，病患中日承見愛，衲僧分中無以為報，敢將生平少有見處，與門下共見，始洽素心耳。門下居富貴而不為富貴沒溺，真夙世道種。昔云曾做色空工夫，今又奚似耶？客歲承邀出山，見喬梓俱恙，心甚不安。門下外感似不必慮，令郎內傷深為可虞。故知藥餌止堪治標，欲拔其源，必須心地上提持，纔能破其病魔堅壘。一日曾叩云：「起明還知妄想起處麼？」彼云：「不知。」「既不知，單提一箇覺字，日久月深，自然不背覺合塵去也。」後半日，彼便覺得妄念起處。然此一覺，已勝進參苓數服矣。久之，偶夜深漏盡闃。爾時山僧忽召彼云：「起明覺麼？」彼云：「覺。」曰：「覺從什麼處生？」云：「從無覺生。」曰：「既從無覺生，當再看無覺之覺。」時彼默然返照不答，殊有憬入處。山僧隨提云：「祖師道：『以不覺故而有始覺，以始覺故而有本覺。』汝今覺得本覺之覺，心意泰然，如斯會去，何愁妄念之生不自了了也。」時彼云：「稍有把捉。」復恐彼不能時時堅守，遂於佛前受戒，防衛身心。而病源既清，醫藥亦效，可不復憂矣。別後聞有玄門秘訣、本領工夫，此不特衲僧家見為外道，即在彼教亦屬罪人。不見老子云：「偽道養形，真道養神。」丹陽子云：「抱元守一是工夫，懶漢如今一也無？終日啣盃暢神思，醉中卻有那人扶？」且道如何是那人？若這裏見得徹去，寧復有秘訣而過此者乎？諦觀先聖靡不指照人從心入道，除是向上一路，石火電光猶為鈍置，豈容擬議商量哉？門下莫厭葛藤，果相信不棄，偕令郎時常黽勉，莫失正念。病中忽見無病，本來即世相明實相。復何病？復何藥？復何禪？復何玄？復何秘密？復何淺顯也哉？

> I recall meeting you by the roadside years ago, and with a single smile we became friends. For fifteen years, you have shown me kindness even in my illness, and as a humble monk, I have no way to repay you. I dare to share with you the little insight I have gained in my life, so that we may see it together and fulfill our sincere hearts. You dwell in wealth and honor, yet are not drowned by them—truly a seed of the Way from past lives. You once said you had practiced the work of form and emptiness—how does it stand now? Last year, you invited me to leave the mountains, and seeing both you and your son unwell, my heart was uneasy. Your external afflictions need not be a concern, but your son's internal injuries are deeply worrying. Thus, I know medicine can only treat the symptoms; to uproot the source, one must uphold the mind-ground to break through the fortress of illness. One day, I asked him: "Qiming, do you know where deluded thoughts arise?" He said, "I do not know." "Since you do not know, simply hold to a single word: 'awareness.' Over time, naturally you will not turn away from awareness and join with dust." Later that day, he became aware of where deluded thoughts arise. Yet this single moment of awareness surpasses taking many doses of ginseng and poria. After a while, deep in the silent night, I suddenly called to him: "Qiming, are you aware?" He said, "Aware." I asked, "Where does awareness arise from?" He said, "From non-awareness." I said, "Since it arises from non-awareness, look further into the awareness of non-awareness." At that, he silently turned inward and did not answer, showing a deep entry. I then reminded him: "The Patriarch said, 'Because of non-awareness, there is initial awareness; because of initial awareness, there is fundamental awareness.' Now that you are aware of the awareness of fundamental awareness, your mind is at ease. If you understand in this way, why worry that deluded thoughts will not be clearly seen?" At that, he said, "I have a slight grasp." Fearing he might not hold firm at all times, I then had him receive precepts before the Buddha to guard body and mind. Since the root of illness was cleared, medicine also took effect, and there is no more need for worry. After parting, I heard there are secret methods and essential practices from other paths. Not only do we monks see these as external ways, but even within those teachings, they are considered transgressors. Have you not seen Laozi say: "False ways nurture the form; true ways nurture the spirit." Dan Yangzi said: "Embracing the One and guarding the One is the practice—but now this lazy fellow has not even one. All day he drinks to ease his spirit, yet drunk, there is still that one who supports him." Tell me, who is that one? If you see clearly here, could there be any secret method beyond this? Observe the sages of old—all point to entering the Way through the mind. Except for the highest path, even sparks from stone or lightning are too slow—how could deliberation and discussion be allowed? Do not grow weary of these tangled vines. If you truly believe and do not abandon it, strive together with your son, never losing right mindfulness. In illness, suddenly see no illness; in the ordinary world, directly perceive the true reality. Then what illness? What medicine? What meditation? What mystery? What secrets? What shallowness or profundity?